**Originally Listed At $900**

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Valdivian culture, ca. 1800 to 1500 BCE. A fabulous axe head hand-carved from jade with a mottled coloration of black, grey, and white; a rounded blade and slightly incurved sides that flare out subtly to a straight edge. The surface is delightfully smooth in texture; formed over many hours using painstaking techniques by master artisans. Hand axes like this one, although shaped like a utilitarian tool, were made specifically for ritual purposes and symbolized the power of the bearer. They were often incorporated in burials and laid to rest with the deceased. Size: 5.875" L x 4.9" W (14.9 cm x 12.4 cm); 6.56" H (16.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, USA collector from 1966

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#159190

Minor surface wear and nicks as expected with age and use. Fully intact!